Comparison

Cactus Watch vs U/AWARE

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Cactus Watch

Access real-time public safety incident information on your mobile device. View basic incident details for free, or upgrade for advanced features like interactive maps and push notifications.

Highlights
  • Live incident feed
  • Incident type and location
  • Dispatch time
  • Interactive live incident map
  • Push notifications
  • Customizable map themes
Features
Read full description

Cactus Watch provides real-time access to publicly available public safety incident information through a simple feed designed for mobile devices and optional premium features. The app is designed for situational awareness information in a mobile-friendly format. FREE ACCESS Cactus Watch includes a free experience that allows users to view basic incident information, including: - Incident type - Approximate location - Dispatch time - Live incident feed Basic situational awareness remains available at no cost. CACTUS WATCH PLUS Cactus Watch Plus enhances situational awareness with premium features: - Interactive live incident map - Day, night, and satellite map views - Push notifications - Fire station overlay - Custom map color themes - Manual refresh controls - Enhanced incident details Cactus Watch Plus provides premium features for viewing publicly available information in a mobile-friendly format. WHY CACTUS WATCH Cactus Watch is designed to make publicly available incident information easier to access, view, and understand on mobile devices. The value of the app is in speed, clarity, mapping, and usability, not ownership of the underlying data. DATA SOURCE Incident information is sourced from publicly available government public safety systems. Official source: https://maps.phoenix.gov/phxfire/rest/services/Active_Incidents__Public/MapServer IMPORTANT NOTICE Cactus Watch is an independent application and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by any government agency, fire department, EMS agency, public safety organization, or emergency dispatch center. Information may be delayed, incomplete, or unavailable. Not all incidents may be displayed. Cactus Watch is for informational and situational awareness purposes only and must not be used for emergency response or life-safety decisions. In an emergency, call 911. SUBSCRIPTIONS Cactus Watch Plus is an auto-renewing subscription billed through your Apple ID account. Payment is charged upon confirmation. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period. Manage or cancel anytime in your account settings. Support: support@cactuswatch.com Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

U/AWARE

Control and monitor your Uniden SDS150 scanner remotely via Bluetooth. View transmissions visually, hear audio, and record incoming signals directly on your device.

Highlights
  • Remote operation via Bluetooth
  • Visual display of transmissions
  • Audio playback of scanned signals
  • Record incoming transmissions
  • Full control replication of SDS150
Read full description

Provides remote operation functionality via Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE), a visual display and audio of scanned radio transmissions. The display and all controls of the SDS150 are replicated on the app allowing you to access and control all the functions within the range. All incoming audio from the transmissions can be recorded and heard through your devices.

Screenshots

Cactus Watch4 screens
U/AWARE4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: U/AWARE at 63% against Cactus Watch's 0%. U/AWARE also leads on rating (3.5 vs 1.6) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). Cactus Watch's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Cactus Watch sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. U/AWARE asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

U/AWARE holds the better App Store score, 3.5 against 1.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 13 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Cactus Watch's written reviews are positive against 63% of U/AWARE's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cactus Watch ships an update every 9 days, U/AWARE every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Cactus Watch versus U/AWARE: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCactus WatchU/AWARE
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.6 (8 ratings)3.5 (13 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews62.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings813 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size107 MB33 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperLedyz LLCUniden Corporation

Customer experience

Cactus Watch

All ratings7 ratings
Positive28.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative71.4%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

U/AWARE

All ratings12 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral8.3%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Cactus Watch

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$54.991 Year
None

U/AWARE

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Cactus Watch free?
Cactus Watch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is U/AWARE free?
U/AWARE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Cactus Watch or U/AWARE?
U/AWARE is rated higher. Cactus Watch averages 1.6 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while U/AWARE averages 3.5 from 13 ratings.
Do Cactus Watch or U/AWARE have ads?
Neither Cactus Watch nor U/AWARE shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cactus Watch or U/AWARE?
Cactus Watch ships an update every 9 days, and U/AWARE every 2 months. Most recently, Cactus Watch was updated on November 4, 2026 and U/AWARE on November 5, 2026.

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